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20 Jul 2012

Punjab to be Connected to Delhi-Mumbai

Union Minister for Commerce, Industries and Textiles, Shri Anand Sharma held meetings with Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Parkash Singh Badal and Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today to discuss the industrial projects in the states. Shri Sharma was accompanied by a high level delegation from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

In the meeting with Punjab Chief Minister, Shri Sharma announced that Punjab would be connected to the Western Industrial Corridor (Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor). The Minister announced that initially Ludhiana will be linked to Rewari to provide this connectivity and there was in principal agreement between the Central Government and the Punjab Government for extending this connectivity to Amritsar, for which the feasibility will have to be worked out.

Underlining the need for reviving the investment and trade environment in Punjab, Shri Anand Sharma said that there was urgent need for job creation in the state and the farmers’ related issues. Highlighting the Central Government’s thrust on skill development with a view to generate employment in the region he said that two MoUs have been signed with the Government of Germany for this purpose.

While interacting with the media persons here today, Shri Sharma further announced that considering the severe environment and pollution problem in Ludhiana, a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) will be set up in Ludhiana under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) of the Ministry of Textiles. He further informed that a high-level committee under Secretary, Textiles would be visiting the city in two weeks time and plant would be setup in a time bound manner.

Shri Sharma further said that the Central Government in coordination with Agricultural Products Export Development Aurthority (APEDA) would also be setting up a cargo cold storage facility for perishable goods at Chandigarh airport. As regards export of wheat through land route, the Minister informed that an in principal agreement between India and Pakistan has been arrived at though the formal agreement to this effect is yet to be signed.

Shri Sharma also announced that to facilitate trade at Wagah-Attari check post, possibilities of using containers instead of bags is being worked out. Also, his Ministry would be discussing with the railways authorities regarding provision of additional rail wagons and a warehouse facility at the check posts.

Referring to the problems of Kinnow growing farmers of Punjab, relating to their export to Bangladesh, he requested the Punjab Government to send a team of their officials to Kolkata with the DGFT Officers over there. He further said Ludhiana, Jalandhar and any other city decided by the Punjab Government would be included under the restructured Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS). He said that also amongst the seven mega leather clusters envisaged to be setup in the country, one would be setup in Punjab for which that Central Government would give Rs. 125 crore. The Punjab Government would, however, have to send a proposal for the same. Regarding of Dhariwal Mills, Shri Sharma announced that the government has decided to revive the same and the National Textile Corporation shall be implementing the revival plan.

Under the Foreign Trade Policy some of the industries relevant to Punjab such as Agro Processing, Toys, Sports and Readymade Garments would be given special benefits. To facilitate investors, the Central Government would be setting up a single electronic gateway system with an Electronic Single Window Portal (EBIZ), which would have the rules and regulations of both the Central and the State Governments for all interface and payments. Now, Punjab has been added to the original five states where the project would be implemented by August 2013.

Later, addressing a press conference along with Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Sharma said Manesar-Bawal Investment Region has been declared as one of the first seven National Manufacturing Investment Zones to be developed as green field integrated industrial townships. The development of this region will be spread over an area of 383sq.kms

He further informed that the development of Manesar-Bawal Investment region will see total infrastructure investments of over 71,000 crores and total estimated investments in the region will be in the range of 2.5 lakh crores and over the next 30 years provide employment to over 28 lakh people.

A state of the art multi-modal logistic hub will be established near Panchgaon Chowk at an estimated cost of nearly 2000 crores of which Government of India will contribute Rs.300 crores. This logistic hub will transform Haryana into a regional logistics centre for the entire northern region, he added.

While announcing a Mass Rapid Transit System in Haryana, Shri Sharma said that such a system will be established in the Manesar-Bawal investment region at a projected cost of Rs.13580 crores. This will be developed in PPP mode.

He informed that the Government of India will establish a National Institute of Design at Kurukshetra for which the State Government will provide land. This Institute will be modeled on the NID, Ahmedabad and will be amongst one of the four national institute being established across the country. The Government of India will provide Rs.135 crores for the entire project. Besides, a National Institute of Fashion Technology will be established at Panchkula. The Haryana Government will support an International Horticulture Hub, Gannaur for which a detailed project report has been prepared, he added.

Shri Sharma said that the Government of India will support the establishment of a Global City spread over a large area of land which will be developed as a hi-tech city with a central business district, finance centre and an integrated exhibition-cum convention facility at Garhi-Harsaru.

The Minister also had a high level review meeting on the project implementation, land acquisition and a joint centre-state task force for monitoring the timelines of the project that has been agreed upon to ensure that the road map drawn for project implementation is followed through.